Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVI, Issue 1
Written by Maria-Marina MERCA (LAIES), Sina Niculina COSMULESCU
This paper’s aim was to investigate the adaptation to the environmental conditions of south-western Romania, Banat region (45°25′48″N 21°34′55″E) in terms of flowering and ripening seasons, of 3 commercial blueberry (V. corymbosum) cultivars of North American origin in order to examine and determine the levels of genetic difference. This study was carried out during the growing season in a blueberry plantation, for 'Duke', 'Hannah's Choice' and 'Elliott' varieties. In the study, phenological traits were recorded using the BBCH phenological scale for blueberry and the observation of phenotypic data was recorded as the number of days from January 1st for statistical analyses. Cultivars were found to have quite different characteristics in terms of phenological traits. The highest coefficient of variation belonged to early pink bud (57 BBCH) (CV = 14.08%), while the lowest CV was given by bud break (53 BBCH) (CV = 5.70%). It was found that the differences in phenology recorded between cultivars are due to the different accumulation of the amount of temperature required for the development of a certain phenophase, depending on the cultivar’s requirements, knowing that the temperature factor is crucial for exiting from dormancy, flowering and fruit ripening.
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